The future of books

Warm-up

• Do you consider yourself a good reader?

• How many books do you read a year?
• What kind of books do you usually read?
• Do you read more printed books than e-books?

Reading

1. What do you think will be the future of books?

2. How might artificial intelligence and machine learning impact the way we
discover and consume written content in the future?
3. Read the following text and discuss:
a) According to the text, how AI will change the literature segment?
b) What are thunks?
c) What are the projections of audiobooks in the future?
d) Does Twitter influence something in literature?

From 'thunks' to mixed reality, the future of books is interactive

What is in store for literature in an increasingly digital world?

BY THEARA COLEMAN, THE WEEK US

PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 19, 2023

As it advances, technology shapes and changes how we interact with almost

everything in our lives, and books are no exception. With the introduction of
OpenAI's ChatGPT, the tension between the literary world and generative artificial
intelligence is palpable. It feels like the future of books might be endangered or at least
up in the air. Experts agree that books aren't going anywhere. They just might look
somewhat different by featuring more mixed-reality elements, audiobooks becoming a
power player and the proliferation of the cleverly named "thunk."
Books could be replaced by 'thunks'
The literary world and generative AI like ChatGPT have been at low-level odds
since the latter's public debut. What with lawsuits over pirated books being used for
training and speculation about the death of the English composition class, technology and
literature seemed destined to have an acrimonious relationship. A world where generative
AI replaces books is the worst-case scenario for some, but that's precisely what Peter
Wang, inventor of PyScript and the co-founder and CEO of Anaconda, recently
envisioned in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
 Instead of publishing books, people will publish "thunks," an invention Wang
described as "nuggets of thought that can interact with the 'reader' in a dynamic and
multimedia way." While there would still be the option for classic linear reading, the
content could also "be autogenerated based on the recipient’s level of existing context
and knowledge."
BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti made similar predictions at the company's Investor
Day in May, Futurism reported. Peretti said that static content would eventually be
replaced, "and audiences will begin to expect all content to be curated and dynamic with
embedded intelligence." The technology would "lead to new formats that are more
gamified, more personalized, and more interactive," he added.
Or they could be integrated with mixed-reality tech
Mixed reality might be having a slower start than some insiders expected, but there
may be a place for it in the future of interactive literature. Incorporating virtual or
augmented reality into books is an opportunity to animate digitized literature. The
technology has already been featured in some children's picture books, but there may be
more resourceful uses for it in the coming years.
At Canon Europe's Future Book Forum, Eirik Wahlstrom, co-founder and CEO of
Ludenso, gave a demo on how his company's technology could "quickly and seamlessly
add augmented reality aspects to textbooks to enhance pupil engagement and the learning
experience," Printweek reported. The company also announced a partnership with Books
of Discovery, a Boulder, Colorado-based company that publishes physical therapy
textbooks, per a Publishing Perspectives report.
Apple is also taking steps to enter the space of mixed-reality books with Virtual
Paper, an invention that first surfaced in 2020, per Patently Apple. With the Apple Vision
Pro on the way and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granting a second patent for
the invention, Virtual Paper is closer to becoming a reality. Eventually, Virtual Paper
could include mixed-reality content in 2D, 3D and animation: You will be able to
crumple, fold, and bend the paper while keeping the graphics intact.
Audiobooks could have a resurgence
Audiobooks aren't new, but they may take on a new importance. Despite being
looked down by some, audiobooks have become increasingly popular over the past few
years. "Audiobook sales have seen double-digit increases each year since 2012," Sam
Apple wrote in The Atlantic. That trend will likely "accelerate in the years ahead given
that Spotify recently made a major push into the market, and Google and Apple are racing
to produce AI-narrated books," Apple added.
Book communities will look different in the post-Twitter era
For a long time, Twitter was the literati's playpen, but Elon Musk's takeover has
marked the end of an era. Because users are abandoning the platform in droves, the
"online literary community has splintered into factions on new platforms like Bluesky,
Mastodon, and Threads," Esquire reported.
“Instagram and TikTok are still massively influential,” publicist Michael Taeckens
told the outlet, “but there's no longer one central place where most everyone shares and
receives info and opinions about books.” Without Twitter, literary communities will still
find each other, but “instead of one platform taking precedence, as Twitter did, I suspect
that many different platforms will continue as the dominant trend,” Taekens said.

Source: https://theweek.com/culture-life/books/future-of-books

Speaking
a) Do you think traditional printed books will become obsolete in the future, or will
they continue to coexist with digital formats?
b) With the rise of audiobooks and podcasts, how do you see the future of consuming
written content evolving in terms of format and accessibility?
c) E-books have gained popularity in recent years, but do you think the physicality and
sensory experience of holding a book will still be valued in the future?
d) In a world dominated by screens and social media, do you think people will read
more or less in the future? What factors might contribute to this shift?
e) How can we encourage a culture of deep reading and critical thinking in the future?

Vocabulary

Match the verbs below with the sentences according to the actions you can do in your
tablet or smartphone while reading an e-book:
zoom out - swipe - scroll - pinch - zoom in
1. You can ____________ through the chapters to browse the book.
2. You can ____________ through the pages at the bottom.
3. You can ___________________ to see more detail on the page.
4. You can ________________ to make a page smaller.
5. You can ___________________ to open a page if you are using an iPhone.

Extra:

Read a short story created with AI: https://storiesby.ai/p/max-the-plant-whisperer

Conversation starters

a) Any recommendations for a good book to start right now?

b) Do you have a favorite genre, or do you like to explore different types of books?
c) Have you read any books that were better or worse than their movie adaptations?
d) Have you ever been part of a book club? Any memorable experiences?
e) If you could start a book club, what type of books would you focus on?
f) Do you lean more towards classic literature or contemporary fiction? Any
classic books you think everyone should read at least once?
g) Who is your all-time favorite author, and why?
h) Have you ever traveled to a place inspired by a book? Where?
i) If you could visit the setting of any book, where would it be?
j) Do you enjoy re-reading books, or do you prefer exploring new ones?
k) What's your favorite memory of a bookstore or library visit?
l) Do you have a favorite bookstore or library, either locally or in a specific city?